Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1007

Cara was visibly shaken, having just bared her soul to Ludwik. His imposing presence terrified her into honesty.

But it was Ms. Sheldon who held her true allegiance, her family back home still under the thumb of Holly Walker. Cara yearned to switch sides, to step into the light, but breaking free from Florence's grip seemed an impossible task. There she was, cowering, fully aware of Ms. Sheldon's growing suspicions.

Florence, frustrated by Cara's inaction, began to sob pitifully. "Cara, did you hear me? Even if you're siding with Ludwik now, have some pity on me. I'm bleeding out here, I don't want to wet the bed. We've always treated you well, haven't we?" Cara had served the Sheldon family for decades, coerced and bribed by Holly to remain Ms. Sheldon's confidante.

She had even taken part in schemes against Whitney.

But witnessing Ms. Sheldon's cruelty towards Whitney's unborn child, subjecting the fetus to months of torment, had been too much for Cara to bear.

Yet, confronting Florence now could endanger her family...

Accompanying her to the restroom seemed a risk worth taking.

Reluctantly, Cara stepped forward.

An aide blocked the path of the maid, his icy gaze landing on Florence. "I'll have a doctor provide a urinal bag for you!"

"Must you humiliate me this way, you lapdog for Ludwik? I'm already at your mercy, what more do you want? I refuse to use a urinal bag, I'd rather die."

Florence's outburst bordered on hysteria.

The aide, tired of her ranting, chose to remain silent.

Finally, Cara helped Florence to her feet and they made their way to the restroom at a snail's pace.

The aide commanded from the center of the room, "Don't close the door!"

"Are you some kind of pervert? Watching me pee?" Florence's face turned a shade of iron blue, but she had no choice. Once inside, she turned the faucet on full blast to drown out any sounds. Cara began to assist with Florence's clothing.

tightly, her weakness belied by the

to meet Ms. Sheldon's chilling stare. In a whisper that could freeze

this was an interrogation under the

that car accident, when you asked me to monitor that foreign man at Sanctum Mary Medical, to see if he took your hair. I

feared her words might bring

would uncover the

not to offend either side. She didn't want to

room, then covered Cara's mouth, hissing, "You'd be

ear, "If you don't want to die by my hand,

Cara was taken

by Ludwik. Now, virtually a prisoner under his watch, she was cut off from the

hospital, the truth about the emergency C-section might come out

showed up, their cover would be

had concocted a plan that required

phone, or you'll die in this

Sheldon, why are you doing this to me?" Cara knew their phones had

a phone, she'd

shaking her

and bleeding, grabbed Cara by the neck. "Do you think that aide cares if you drown in here?

you really think you can betray me? I fear for you and your family. They're all under my mother's control. Disobey, and

is too much!" Cara's

in death. Do this for me, and I'll let you return

Florence's clutches and save her family, Cara saw no

her tears and left the

aide eyed her suspiciously. "Why

sleeve. "Ms. Sheldon needs sanitary pads. I'm going

aide, alone and unable to leave his post,